Homeopathy

The system of homeopathy was founded at the turn of the nineteenth century
by a German pharmacist named Samuel Hahnemann, who abhorred the drastic healing
practices of the time, such as bloodletting. Experimenting on himself, he discovered
that cinchona bark (from which the anti-malarial quinine is made) would induce
in him – a healthy person – the same symptoms it would cure in
a sick person. This principle became known as the law of similars, or ‘like
cures like’.

Hahnemann created a sensation in 1800 when he successfully used highly diluted
doses of belladonna as a cure and preventative to treat victims of a scarlet
fever epidemic that swept through Germany at the time. Successful treatment
using homeopathic remedies of other infectious diseases such as yellow fever
and typhus further aided the reputation of homeopathy as an efficacious treatment.
Though disavowed by conventional pharmacists and physicians of the time, the
popularity of homeopathy spread throughout Europe (helped in part by his second
wife’s associations with the French nobility), and has been practised
in the UK since the 1850s.

Homeopathic prescriptions are tailored to the symptoms and the patient, rather
than an illness, so patients with the same illness but different symptoms will
be treated with different remedies. Using extremely small doses of plant and
mineral extracts (a ‘microdose’), the remedies are given in sugar-based
tablets that are taken by melting under the tongue.

The mode of action of homeopathy is not fully understood, though there is a
body of research that suggests that the effects of homeopathy have around a
2.5 greater effect than placebo (The Lancet 1997, Line et al). Another European
study (Belon et al, 1999) showed that homeopathic concentrations of histamine
have a dramatic effect on a certain type of white blood cell. In another study
(Belougne-Malfatti et al, 1998), it was found that homeopathic doses of aspirin
had significant effects on platelet aggregation and in reducing bleeding time.
As normal doses of aspirin increase bleeding time, it was predicted that homeopathic
doses would reduce it, a prediction that was verified in this study. There
are also examples in the animal kingdom of extremely small doses having a powerful
effect, one of which is the action of pheromones (certain species of moth,
for example, can detect another of the same species up to 3km away).

Homeopathy is mainly used to treat chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis,
Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, eczema, irritable
bowel syndrome, ME and repeated infections, as well as patients who are unwell
but whose doctor can’t find a specific problem. Some allergies also respond
well to homeopathy, particularly hay fever and related pollen allergies. Homeopathy
is useful for patients who do not tolerate the side effects of conventional
treatment well, and as it is such a gentle treatment children are also commonly
treated. Some homeopathic remedies are available over the counter in pharmacies
and health food shops.

In the UK there are five homeopathic hospitals, and some conventional healthcare
practitioners also practice homeopathy, sometimes in an NHS setting.

A homeopath will take a detailed medical history, as well as details about
the patient’s eating, sleep and work patterns in order to choose a suitable
remedy. A follow up consultation will usually be required, and the homeopath
will want to know any changes that the patient notices. Sometimes patients
may have flu-like symptoms, a discharge or rash may appear, and this is regarded
as a sign that the patient’s system is going through a cleansing stage.
As homeopathy is based on such small doses there are no contraindications to
treatment, though it is thought that strong smelling substances such as essential
oils (often found in cosmetic and personal hygiene products) can counteract
the homeopathic effect.